Shelter Engineer

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a IICA full time position within the El Fasher SO office Sudan.

This job opportunity is within the Programme Unit in El Fasher and falls within the UNHCR’s Strategic Shelter Engineer, UNHCR has significant operational responsibilities including responding to IDP new displacements and other disasters in variuos locations in Darfur; Supporting return of IDPs to their areas of return or origin; Organizing voluntary repatriation and reintegratiion of Sudenese refugees from Chad; Strengthening protection and assistance services for CAR and South Sudanese refugees in camps and settlements as well as in host communities until durable solutions are found.

The Shelter Engineer will play a key role to ensure that these community support projects and other construction projects are well planned, supervised, monitored and evaluated.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Shelter Engineer

Duty Station: El Fasher, Sudan

Duration: through 31/12/2022

Contract Type: UNOPS International Individual Contactor- IICA 2

Closing date: 9/06/2022

Posting date: 26/5/2022

Start Date: as soon as possible.

Organizational context

UNHCR has significant operational responsibilities including responding to IDP new displacements and other disasters in variuos locations in Darfur; Supporting return of IDPs to their areas of return or origin; Organizing voluntary repatriation and reintegratiion of Sudenese refugees from Chad; Strengthening protection and assistance services for CAR and South Sudanese refugees in camps and settlements as well as in host communities until durable solutions are found.

The Shelter Engineer will play a key role to ensure that these community support projects and other construction projects are well planned, supervised, monitored and evaluated.

Functions to be dealt with by the incumbent in this post include shelter planning/design, promotion of appropriate building technologies and innovative building materials (mainly ISSB) and construction monitoring, which imply that the Shelter Engineer should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering or architecture and solid expertise on ISSB production and installation.

Duties and responsibilities

• Ensuring that UNHCR Field operation in Darfur is supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments considering the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.

• Ensure that the shelter strategy is taking into consideration the local context, culture, climate, environment, protection, and usage of local resources including sustainable building materials (mainly ISSB).

• Work with the relevant technical, Program and Supply colleagues in close coordination with implementing partners and other concerned parties to develop implementation modalities and work plans for Community Support Projects-CSPs and other infrastructure needs.

• Provide technical inputs and advice to Program in the process of Implementation Partner Selection and review of Partner Project Agreements (PPA) for construction related activities.

• Provide support in through provision of technical inputs in the development of contingency plans for population movements. Provide support in developing and updating agreed response strategies (MPAs and APAs) for refugee and IDP sites, including transition/exit strategy for site consolidation and closures within the AOR.

• Undertake site planning missions as required and provide clear guidance on standards for settlements and shelter, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs as well as guidance for durable shelter solutions.

• Together with UNHCR’s implementing partners, compiling, analyzing, and mapping available information on shelter options in Darfur considering relevant policies adopted by the Government.

• When planning shelter works, ensuring that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.

• Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings for community support projects and other infrastructure and construction projects are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner. Establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.

• Promoting the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with local partners in the field. Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.

• Ensure that local innovative building materials mainly ISSB are promoted for durable shelter construction, production, and installation activities of ISSB are well established including engagement of local communities, private sector and other agencies and NGOs.

• Monitor all shelter, infrastructure and construction projects through Implementing Partners and contractors and ensure compliance with strategies and guidance provided and agreed.

• When identifying beneficiaries, ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable population of concern (POC) and host families are addressed. UNHCR’s vulnerability indicators should be applied in a participatory manner during the beneficiary selection.

• The position requires regular contact with program, protection, and field staff in Darfur to ensure technical support related to shelter and construction activities.

• Close and regular contact with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, National and International NGOs and Government Authorities, is essential to discuss matters relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision.

• Maintain a strong collaboration with the country office technical unit for collaboration and support

• Develop adequate reports and share information with Management, stakeholders and with other sectors through inter-sector communication channels.

• Undertake any other responsibilities/ functions deemed necessary or as requested by supervising officer.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education:

Civil Engineering or Architecture.

Relevant Job Experience Essential:

Managerial and technical ability to support a specialist team in emergency and/or protracted situations. Previous similar job experience in the humanitarian settlement planning / infrastructure field, knowledge of technical drawing software, GIS tools and an ability to produce technical plans, undertake spatial analysis, site assessments and conduct training. Desirable: Advanced awareness of settlement planning best practice and guidance with basic understanding of several other technical sectors. Appropriate work experience in Shelter, Settlements, and Infrastructure in a Humanitarian Context. Solid expertise on ISSB production and installation is essential.

Functional Skills

• SP-AutoCAD software, SP-Infrastructure, Development/Construction and Management/Property Management.
• IT- Computer Literacy.
• EM-Emergency Management – Operations/Preparedness/Response.
• PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards).
• SP-Site/Physical Planning.
• SP-Civil Engineering.
• SP-Rural Settlement Development.
• SP-Environment Planning.
• SP-Rehabilitation and development programmes.

Language Requirements

Knowledge of English.

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in the UN City in El Fasher, Sudan. With travel to other states within Sudan.

Competency Requirements

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Remuneration

Monthly fees range between USD $ 9,007.40 to $10,100.99, depending on the level of expertise of the candidate. Daily subsistence allowance for travel with Sudan will be payable as applicable.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit their letter of motivation, Personal History Form (PHF) and CV to [[email protected]] indicating [Shelter Engineer, El Fasher] in the subject of the email.

Personal History Forms are available at PHF Form / Supplementary Sheet.

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.